An amateur performer from Kent has stunned the judges on the ITV show to find the next star of Mamma Mia.

Maisie Waller is battling it out to be cast as Sophie, the lead role in the ABBA musical in the West End.

The 22-year-old has no professional training or performing background, with her stage experience limited to mostly amateur productions around Thanet.

But she came out among the top performers in the latest episode of the ITV show Mamma Mia! I Have A Dream tonight.

The show is seeking the next Sophie and Sky – the leading female and male roles – in the West End production of Mamma Mia.

Maisie, from Birchington, drew huge praise from the judging panel for her performance of the Les Miserables classic tune, I Dreamed A Dream.

Glee star and award-winning West End actress Amber Riley said she “commanded” the stage with her rendition.

“You sung it beautifully and that could have been done at the theatre,” she told Maisie.

“You did an amazing job and sung like a star.”

Fellow judge Samantha Barks said: “That’s a really, really hard song and you sung it brilliantly, that was really powerful.”

Meanwhile Alan Carr described her audition as “haunting” adding it was “pure theatre and pure chills”.

Earlier in the episode, an acting workshop also saw Maisie impress.

The show sees performers go head-to-head in challenges before a weekly elimination.